The kiddos are back in school, the weather is cooling off, and there’s a delectable smell of pumpkin in the air. It can only mean one thing – autumn is here! While we’re all grateful to get a break from the summer heat, the return of autumn also means the return of flu season. It’s even more important this time of year to keep your home healthy, and that includes your wastewater and drainage systems!
When a plumbing system gets backed up, there’s an increased risk of a clog creating a biohazard in your home, not to mention the costly price of calling a plumber to make repairs. But thanks to the “Do Not Flush” symbol, it’s easier than ever to protect your home from clogs.
This handy symbol is now clearly displayed on the packaging of nonflushable wipes like makeup wipes, baby wipes, and even your flu-fighting disinfectant wipes. But the symbol alone can’t prevent clogs – it’s up to us as consumers to make sure we notice it and dispose of our wipes products properly. So, as you fight off flu season with your favorite disinfectant wipes, make sure to look for the symbol on its packaging – and NEVER flush those wipes. We call that a #FlushSmart habit.
But #FlushSmart habits don’t end with ensuring to toss disinfectant wipes in the trash; there’s even more ways to protect the pipes in your home. After cooking, you should never pour fats, oils or grease (known as FOGs) down the drain. These waste products can congeal with other nonflushable items in our sewer systems to create fatbergs that damage our wastewater infrastructure. Fatbergs are cement-like masses that can even create sewage spills that contaminate our drinking water—the last thing you need during flu season!
Remember, whether you’re battling germ build-up or cooking hearty meals this autumn, you and your family can play an important role in preventing clogs and fatbergs.
Want to stay in the know about more #FlushSmart tips for this flu season? Sign up for our newsletter!
About Responsible Flushing Alliance
The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization dedicated to consumer education focused on what not to flush. RFA’s goal is to change consumer behavior to help reduce damage to our nation’s sewage systems caused by objects and materials not designed to be flushed.